Ethical and moral issues via Internet - Essay Example

Governments in different parts of the word censor internet providers for various purposes. These include protecting the from antisocial problems such as gambling, gaining access to explicit information including pornographic sites among other reasons and China is not an exception. In the current political systems, autocratic governments are increasing blocking citizens from accessing the internet in order to prevent them from acquiring information that would incite them into violence and overthrow the current governments (Stephen, 2005).

In the recent past Chinese government was reported to be censoring internet providers and search engines including Google preventing the citizens from getting certain information online (Elliot, 2006). This decision raises serious moral and ethical issues in a highly globalized world where the flow of information is important for commerce and maintaining social order. Chinese government is a communist’s state and the flow of information is highly regulated not only in the internet but also in the other forms of communication including the media and other electronic means such as television and radio (Stephen, 2005).

In largely capitalistic world, Chinese government attempts to maintain their preferred form of government at all costs by preventing free flow of information. One of the main characteristics of communism is denying the citizens the freedom of expression and association (Stephen, 2005). In this respect, denying people accessing information is one of the most effective ways of ensuring that they do not get information that could cause rebellion and destabilization of the existing government. Several moral issues arise from censoring information from the internet in China.

Freedom of expression is a universal right that every global citizen should enjoy at all times (Guang, 2005). People should have access to information because it not only empowers them on how to tackle daily challenges but it keeps them in touch with the latest happenings occurring in different parts of the word. In this respect, denying people access to information does not only limit their freedom but it also inhibits their ability to enjoy life in the country (Elliot, 2006). China is a very conservative society and though information plays a very important role in any given society, a recent study on internet use in the country established several important findings.

According to Elliot (2006), majority of internet users in the country are convinced that internet is transforming political landscape in the country. In this respect, the users affirm that increased internet access would enhance transparency resulting to greater accountability and expansion of political structure. Guang (2005) notes that over 63% of Chinese depend on the internet to get political information, 54% use the internet platform to criticize the government while 45% contend that the internet offers greater opportunity for expressing their political opinions.

In this case, majority of the Chinese depend on the internet as a means of expressing, criticizing and learning about the government. Similarly, Guang (2005) established that majority of the Chinese affirm that particular internet content should be regulated and controlled. Examples of such content include pornographic and sites that propagate violence. However, Guang (2005) notes that only 7.6 % of the Chinese support censoring of political information in the internet. In this respect, majority of the Chinese believe that the internet would create better world to live.

In conclusion, China is one of the few countries in the world with strict internet control. This practice prevents the people from accessing information on how the government is run and it denies them opportunity of criticizing and taking part in building the country. References Elliot S. (2006). Testimony: The internet in China. Accessed on 2 April, 2011 from http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/testimony-internet-in-china.html Guang, L. (2005). Surveying internet usage and impact in five Chinese cities.

Research Centre for Social Development, 3: pp 23-67. Stephen, D. (2005). Social effects of globalization: Are we prepared? Durban: Focus Books Publishers.